“I’m nobody.”
“You have never been nobody, Brea Robinson. I thought I told you that already.”
“Then tell me what’s so special about me that you stole me away from my home at the worst possible moment?”
“I thought it was rather good timing seeing as how you were recently arrested and in the company of a dangerous man.” Griff scratched the stubble on his chin. She’d thought elves were supposed to be all smooth-skinned and hairless, but he had a handsome ruggedness about him.
“I’m tired of your games, Elf. Either take me home or leave me be.”
“I told you, I am fae. I am not an elf, a fairy, or a nymph, or any other such creature the humans dreamed up.”
“Fine, Fae-man-person. Whatever you are. Take me home.”
“I can’t do that. But I can take you back to the cottage, offer you a hot meal and a warm bath. Fresh clothes and answers to your questions. And you may call me Griff.”
“What about your cage? There is no way I’m going back in there, and you can keep your freaky tranquilizer fruit for yourself. I’m done with that stuff.”
”I am sorry about that, Brea, truly. I did not mean to treat you like a prisoner. My queen summoned me, and I must go to her when she has need of me. There was no time to explain everything you need to know. I only wanted to make you comfortable and safe while I was gone.”
”Here’s a little note for the comment card. The next time you have a guest at your little fairytale B&B, don’t lock them up.”
“I don’t know what most of that means, but if you will remember, I told you I will never lie to you. Come with me, and I will explain everything.”
”Fine.” Brea crossed her arms over her chest. “You can start by explaining how I suddenly have pointy ears.”
“You’ve always had them.” He set off for the forest path, gesturing for her to follow. “You were glamoured so neither you nor anyone else could see them.”
“Glamoured?” Brea walked beside him.
“It’s a Fae thing. Someone didn’t want you or anyone in your life to know what you are.”
“Which is what? You’re saying I’m Fae?”
“You are a human-Fae hybrid. That, among many other things, is what makes you special.” He paused. “Yet you don’t seem at all upset by this revelation.”
“It explains a lot.” Brea couldn’t seem to stop touching her new ears. “So you’re saying my mother had an affair with a Fae person? That makes zero sense. If you knew my mother, you’d agree. She’s not the adventurous sort.”
“I don’t know how it happened, but your birth father was Fae.”
“Was? So he’s dead?”
“Unfortunately.”
“That still doesn’t explain why your queen seems to have an interest in me.” Brea’s stomach growled. She hadn’t had anything to eat all day.
“Here, have a silver fig, I picked them fresh this morning.” He pulled a handful of figs from his bag.
Brea’s eyes widened in alarm when he tossed her the fruit.
“No strange side effects, I promise. I’ll have one myself.” He proceeded to peel back the silvery skin of the fig and made a show of eating it to prove it wasn’t freaky like the berries.
“Fine.” Brea was too hungry to argue with him. “But you still haven’t answered my question.” She peeled the shimmery skin from the fruit and tried not to moan at the taste of the fig. She swore she could taste the sun in that first bite.
“That’s a complicated question with a long answer.” Griff scratched his head.
“I’ve got nothing but time it seems. Start talking.”
Griffin walked ahead of her, staring up into the clear blue sky for a moment before turning back to her. “The Fae realm is ancient. Ages older than the human world. Within it, there are three distinct realms. We are in Fargelsi now. Gelsi is an exotic realm of lush forests and wild lands. It’s warm and sunny almost all year here. To the north lies the Iskalt kingdom. It is very cold there with massive mountain ranges and frozen lakes. It’s a rather bleak and cruel land, but beautiful in its own way.
“The third realm to the east is Eldur, by far the largest. It’s the fire realm. Desert wastelands in the north and hot springs and marshes to the south. Between each of these realms are the Vatlands. Neutral territories you never want to visit.
“Across Loch Villandi and beyond the deserts of Eldur, lie the Eastern Vatlands, also called the